20 Sep How an Air Purifier Helps Improve Indoor Air Quality

Air contaminants like dust, dander, and microorganisms cause respiratory problems and allergies. An air purifier is a device designed to remove these impurities and keep air clean. Most air purifiers available in the market today claim to remove second-hand cigarette smoke as well as benefit individuals who suffer from allergies and asthma. Air purifiers are either small stand-alone units or larger commercial grade models attached to air handlers and HVAC systems used in businesses, and medical industries.

Types of home air purifier used today

Air purifying technology is categorized as either active or passive. Active air purifiers use ionisation to clean air of contaminants. On the other hand, passive air purifiers use air filters as cleaning element. One advantage of an air purifier is the capability to permanently remove particulates from the air.

Although some may think that indoor air is clean, there is no such thing as a self-contained home free from outside contaminants. There will always be contaminants, volatile compounds, and pollutants which will cause harm to your family’s health. Here are several types of air purifiers, air cleaners, and air filters used in homes today.

1. Portable air purifier. This type of air purifier is also often called a room purifier. As such, it is meant to clean a specific room in your home. This is suitable for homes with no central HVAC system. Despite of this limitation, portable air purifiers are quite effective and less expensive than a whole house air purifier. They weight approximately 10 to 20 pounds and can be easily moved around. Portable air purifiers with HEPA filter ensures a 99.9% rate of removing particulates as little as 0.3 micrometers.

2. Whole-house air purifier. A whole-house air filter is connected to an HVAC system to purify air going in and out of the HVAC system. A whole-house air purifier cleans a large area and is perfect if you want an air purifying unit for the entire house.

3. Whole-house air filter. This is a less-expensive option to a whole-house air purifier. It is often attached to the furnace as replacement for a typical air filter. For both a whole air purifier and whole-house air filter, you need a technician for proper installation.

4. Activated carbon filters. This type of air filter is used in combination with other types of filters such as HEPA. The oxygen in these carbon filters pull odors, gases, and vapors from the air. When used with other air filters, activated carbon filters are very effective because not all purifiers have the capacity to absorb odor.

5. Anti-bacterial filters. Aside from purifiers and filters that remove air contaminants, it is also helpful if you have an anti-bacterial air purifier at home. These purifiers use UV light to kill germs and other harmful microorganisms.

While air purifiers are extremely useful and beneficial to improve air quality, it also helps to keep your home clean and free from all sources of contaminants. You should regularly do the following:

• Vacuuming floors, furniture, and other surfaces.
• Opt of for other types of flooring instead of carpets.
• Instead of heavy drapes and curtains, use roll-up blinds or shades.
• If you must have pets, try to look for a hypoallergenic breed.
• Keep your home clean and dust-free.
• Replace and wash sheets and beddings regularly.

If you are thinking about getting an air purifier for your home, there are a number of factors to consider. Finding the right air purifier for your needs ensure you get the most out of your investment.

How to choose the right room purifier

Individual room air purifiers work best if you don’t want to invest in a whole-house system. Nevertheless, there are many brands and models to choose from that you can easily find yourself slightly overwhelmed in making the right decision. To choose the right room air purifier, you should consider the following factors.

• Focus on your needs. You need to start by asking yourself why you are considering to buy an air purifier in the first place. Do any of your family members suffer from allergies or asthma? If so, you should look for an air purifier with HEPA filters. These filters are known to effectively remove all types of airborne allergens. Some examples of allergens removed by a HEPA air purifier include dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and mold. For asthmatic patients, there are air purifiers specifically designed to help reduce asthma attacks.

• Air purifier size. You have to take note of the room’s square footage to choose the right air purifier size. Choose an air purifier with a coverage that match your room’s square footage.

• Air purifier features. After choosing the right type and size, you should also consider additional features such as remote controls, variable fan speed, filter indicators, and a lot more. Depending on the features you choose, you can have greater control and convenience in using the air purifier.

• Air purifier location. Air purifiers are best placed in areas of the home you frequent. As such, putting it in your bedroom is the most natural option because you spend a majority of your time inside your bedroom.

• Required maintenance and upkeep. Different models require varying levels of maintenance and upkeep. For example, filter change differ according to the type of air purifier. HEPA filter air purifiers only require filter change of at least once a year. On the other hand, activated carbon filters need replacement every six months. Maintenance should also be factored into your budget when choosing the right air purifier.

If you still have additional questions about air purifiers and air treatment solutions for your home, you can contact an HVAC specialist or search for additional information online.

Comparison of portable air purifier and whole-house purifiers

Portable air purifiers are good when you want to filter air in a specific room insider your home. But what about a whole-house air purifying system? When is it beneficial to consider one? As mentioned in the discussion above, a whole-house air purifier is installed into an existing HVAC system to clean and purify air circulating inside the entire household. There are three different whole-house air purifying systems:

2. A duct-based unit installed into the air duct path, either before or after the air handler.

3. A standalone whole-house purifying system installed either in cabinets or the attic. A standalone system requires additional exhaust and air intake equipment.

Since installing a whole-house purifier requires the services of an HVAC contractor, you need to understand what type of system you are getting so that you know the extent of the cost. Whole-house air purifiers could help in reducing the amount of particulates and air pollutants but may not filter the air to the extent that allergens, microorganisms and volatile compounds are removed effectively. A whole-house air purifier can help improve overall indoor air quality, but if you want greater effectively to remove allergens, bacteria, and harmful compounds from the air, a portable air purifier is your best option.

You can also use portable air purifiers in conjunction with whole-house filters for increased effectiveness and improved air quality. Overall, choosing between a portable air purifier and a whole house system depends on your needs as well as your budget. If you are thinking about getting a while-house air purifier together with your HVAC system, contact Fischer Heating for assistance.